Nominator's statement

While not specifically directed at Cognitive Psychology, this book first articulated the concept of "paradigm" and "paradigm shift" and has influenced generations of scientific researchers. Jim Jenkins used to recommend it to all his students.

comments

• Obviously a good nomination for a millenium list in philosophy of science, but it seems to have nothing particularly to do with cognitive science in particular. In fact, what might be called the multi-disciplinary complexity of cogscience poses some problems for Kuhn's 'paradigm-shift' account of scientific progress, as he noted in later work. The archetypical paradigm shifts have occurred in physics; cogscience is still looking for a paradigm.

• The concepts of "paradigms" and "paradigm shifts" clarify the methods we use to search for truth and meaning.

• Whether or not this book is strictly concerned with cognitive science, it spoke directly to the heart of scientific activity. The concept of a paradigm provided rich insight into why psychologists still remain divided on many key issues. Kuhn's book is a MUST for this list!

• I have to agree with the first comment above. The book is undoubtedly important to general science, but not specifically to cognitive science. If this book goes on the list then we should also include the instruction manual to the coffee machine.

• Absolutely, positively. What better exemplifies the dynamics of cognition (as opposed to either one fixed or consensual "reality" or denotative "ideals")

• By describing how scientists work, Kuhn has actually changed the way science works. Nowadays people seem to present their works as "a new paradigm" to overthrow the old one without appreciating the knowledge that is already there. So I would recommend that cognitive scientists do not quote Kuhn to defend new ideas, because new ideas should be good by themselves, not because they are supposed to be good because they are a new Kuhnian paradigm". (Kuhn never said new paradigms are better than the old ones, so maybe everyone should read Kuhn after all).

• Before to study cognition, we should first become conscious ourselves. This book is of considerable help in understanding the pitfalls of our cognition.